Cartons and method of carton formation



Sept. 1, 1959 .1. ENOS, JR 2,901,373

CARTONS AND METHOD OF CARTON FORMATION Filed Dec. 31, 1956 3Sheets-Sheet 2 T75515 .Efvos (IQ.

INVENTOR.

z w 9 HUEBNER BEEHLER "M/ 'aw/ WORREL & HERZIG 56 L ATTORNEYS mm M Sept.1, 1959 J. ENos, JR 2,

CARTONS AND METHOD OF CARTON FORMATION Filed Dec. 31, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 3 9 7 Q ZJW a2 I mag '99 z 1615- /a7- il JOSEPH E205, J2.

INVENTOR. HUEBNER, BEEHLER, WORREL & HERZIG TTOR EYS United StatesPatent CARTONS AND METHOD OF CARTON FORMATION Joseph Enos, In, Woodlake,Calif, assignor to California Wheeling Machine Products Co, Woodlake,Calif.

Application December 31, 1956, Serial No. 631,678

11 Claims. (Cl. 53-29) The present invention relates to cartons andmethods of carton formation and more particularly to a simple,economical, easily formed package readily fabricated from simple andinexpensive material and readily adapted to accommodate a variety ofsizes and shapes of contents.

In the practical packaging art, savings in time, material and labor areprime considerations. The frequency with which bulk articles, orpreviously packaged articles, must be repackaged, seriously aggravatesthe waste incurred in packaging operations. For example, pipe fittingsare normally shipped by the manufacturer in bulk to the wholesaler. Thewholesaler usually packs the fittings in smaller containers for hisdealers who in turn repack the fittings for the ultimate purchaser.

Disposable fiberboard cartons have become especially popular for packingpurposes but are subject to certain diificulties which have interferedwith their full utility. Such containers are usually pre-cut by means ofa die which also scores various fold lines. The actual formation of thecarton, however, is frequently tedious and more expensive than desired.The required folding operations are usually time consuming, portionsrequire gluing, and automatic machinery is frequently utilized which istoo expensive for the small user. If the containers are for-med by themanufacturer, they are too bulky to ship and to store. If they areshipped in flat blanks and require consumer formation, the operation isfrequently inexpertly performed, time Wasted, and excessive laborinvolved.

Further, many containers must be formed before their contents are placedtherein and yet after formation are inconvenient to fill. Finally,conventional containers are made up in predetermined sizes. It is foundthat an excessive inventory of containers in a wide range of sizes isnecessary if efficiently matching of desired contents with containercapacity is to be achieved. Conventional containers are not readilymodified in accordance with size requirements.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a moreeconomical container, carton or package.

Another object is to provide an improved method of carton formationwhich minimizes wasted time, labor and expense.

Another object is to provide an improved carton which is adaptable tovarious sizes and shapes of contents.

Another object is to provide cartons adapted to receive their contentsprior to complete formation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequentdescription in the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a pair of blanks or sheets of fiberboard orother substantially rigid, foldable material employed in making thecarton of the present invention and showing fold lines thereon.

Fig. 2 illustrates the sheets of Fig. 1 in crossed relation as assumedduring a step in forming the carton.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a jig employed in the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sheets of Fig. 1 folded PatentedSept. 1, 1959 into compartment forming relation and held in suchrelation by the jig of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the carton of the present inventionfilled with pipe nipples with portions of the carton left open to enableobservation of the nipples.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a completed package of the presentinvention.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of a pair of sheets of substantially rigid,bendable material, such a fiberboard, overlapped in a symmetrical crossdemonstrating one of the steps of forming a package in accordance withthe second form of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the sheets of Fig. 8 folded intocompartment forming relation with pipe nipples filling the compartment,and with the sheets held in compartment forming relation by a jig.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a completed carton formed in accordancewith the second form of the present mvention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a pair of elongated,substantially rectangular sheets or blanks 10 and 11 of substantiallyrigid, foldable material, preferably fiberboard, is shown in Fig. l. Thesheet 10 is designated as the first sheet and provides a pair oflongitudinal side edges 12 and 13, opposite transverse end edges 14 and15, a single outer fold line 16 in adjacent spaced relation to the endedge 14, a single inner fold line 17 in adjacent spaced relation to theouter fold line 16, a plurality of transverse outer fold lines 18 inadjacent spaced relation to the end edge 15, and a plurality of innerfold lines 19 in adjacent spaced relation to the plurality of outer foldlines. The fold lines may be formed in the sheet by stamping or scoring.Such lines may also be perforated, if preferred, but this generallyleads to weakness. Stillfurther, the sheet may consist of inner andouter plies having transverse corrugations therebetween easily conduciveto folding. Stated otherwise, the fold lines-are merely weakened linestransversely of the sheet'along which the sheet is easily folded. Thesheet is thus divided-into five panels, namely, end panels 25 and '26,intermediate panels 27 and 28, and a center panel 29.

The second sheet 11 is identical to the first sheet and thus provideslongitudinal side edges 35 and 36, end edges 37 and 38, a'single outerfold line 39, a single inner fold line 49, va plurality of outer foldlines 41, a plurality of inner fold lines 42, end panels 46 and 57,intermediate panels 48 and 4-9, and a center panel 50.

The sheets 10 and 11 may be cut from a large piece'of fiberboard, orlike material, and the fold lines provided thereon in a singleoperation. However accomplished, the provision of the sheets in themanner described is the first step in making the package of the subjectinvention.

The second step is best described by reference'to Fig. 2. The first andsecond sheets 10 and 11 are crossedin substantially right angular,asymmetrical relation with the intermediate panels 27 and 48 inoverlapped relation and constituting overlapped portions generallyindicated by the numeral 55. The overlappedportions may be stapled,glued, or otherwise secured together but in the preferred manner ofcarrying out the method of the-present invention, they are merelyoverlapped. In addition, the end panels 29 and 46 constitute a pair ofshort or minor end portions when the sheets are in the describedoverlapping relation. Further, the panels29, 28, and 26 of the sheet 10,and the panels 50, 49, and 47 of the sheet 11 constitute long or majorend portions of the overlapped sheet. For convenience of reference theshort end portions are given the numeral 56 and the long end portionsthe numeral 57.

Next, the overlapped sheets10 andll are foldedalong lapped portions 55,to bring the short end portions 56 and the long end portions 57 intosubstantially rectangular relation surrounding an open compartment 60having the overlapped portions as a bottom. It is significant to note.that the compartment isopen from beyond the edges 14 and 37 of theshort end portions along two sides of the compartment. Of course, whenthe sheets are folded in this manner, the longitudinal edges of the longand the short end portions are brought into meeting engagement.

The folded sheets are then placed in a jig indicated by the numeral 65.The jig may take any suitable form but, as illustrated, includes a backplate 66 of rectangular shape having four corners. Dowel pins 67 areextended outwardly from the back plate at three corners thereof. A slide68 is also extended outwardly from the back plate at the fourth corner.A V-bar 69 provides an apex longitudinally. slidably fitted .on theslide for movement toward and away from the back plate. The foldedsheets and 11 are placed in the chuck with the overlapped portions 55against the back plate and with the dowel pins extended outwardly alongthe meeting edges of the long and short end portions 56 and 57. In thismanner the dowel pins temporarily hold the sheets in folded compartmentforming relation. The long end portions are positioned against the V-barwhich may be adjusted to accommodate long end portions of variouslengths.

The next step of the present invention involves filling of thecompartment 60 with articles, such as pipe nipples 61. The nipples areplaced in the compartment longitudinally of the sheets 10 and 11 incompact, stacked relation. As a whole, the nipples form a substantiallycubical pack 62 having an end 63 against the overlapped portions 55 andan outwardly extended end 64. Further, the pack provides a longitudinaldimension and a pair of transverse dimensions, the latter beingdetermined by the length and width of the overlapped portions.

After the compartment 60 is filled, the long end portion 57 of the sheet10 is folded along one of the inner fold lines 19 to bring the panel 28against the extended end 64 of the pack 62 in substantially parallelrelation to the overlapped portions of the sheets. For this purpose, aplurality of fold lines 19 have been provided so that the sheet may bebroken or folded along a transverse line which is spaced from theoverlapped portions 55 a dis tance substantially equal to thelongitudinal dimension of the pack. Thereafter, the sheet 10 is furtherfolded along one of the outer fold lines 18 to bring the end panel 26against the pack and the edge into meeting or overlapping engagementwith the edge 14 or merely adjacent to each other. Again, the pluralityof fold lines 18 enable breaking the sheet along a line spaced from thefold line 19 a distance substantially equal to the transverse dimensionof the pack. The sheet 11 is folded in like manner to wrap the long endportion 57 thereof around the pack 62 with the intermediate panel 49-overlaying the intermediate panel 28 and with the edges 38 and 37 intomeeting or overlapping engagement or adjacent to each other. The packageis completed by extending a strip of tape 75 around the sheets 10 and 11in marginally overlapping relation to the meeting edges 15, 16, and 37,38.

Second form The second form of the present invention provides a pair ofelongated, substantially rectangular sheets 79 and 80 of substantiallyrigid, foldable material. The first sheet 79 provides longitudinal sideedges 81 and 82, end edges 83 and 84, single inner fold lines 85 and 86,a plurality of outer fold lines 87 and 88, end panels 89, 90,intermediate panels 91 and 92, and a center panel 93.

The second sheet'80 provides longitudinal side edges 96 and 97, endedges 98 and 99, inner fold lines 100 and 101, groups of outer foldlines 102 and 103, end panels 104 and 105, intermediate panels 106 and107, and a center panel 108. The first and second sheets may be formedin the manner. described in connection with the first form of theinvention and the fold lines may be scored or weakened areas provided byusing a corrugated sheet, as previously explained.

The first and second sheets 79 and are symmetrically crossed with thecenter panels 93 and 108 in overlapping relation so as to provide fouroutwardly extended end portions comprising the intermediate and endpanels of each of the sheets. Preferably, the overlapped center panelsare not secured although they may be, if desired.

Next, the intermediate panels 91, 92, 106, and 107 are folded along thelines 85, 86, 100, and 101 into substantially rectangular relation toform a compartment 115. it is to be noted that the longitudinal edges ofthe adjacent intermediate and end panels are brought into meetingengagement and that the folded sheets provide an opening for thecompartment.

As with the first form of the invention, a jig is provided including aback plate 121 and a plurality of dowel pins 122 extended upwardly fromthe plate at the four corners thereof. The next step in the formation ofthe package of the second form of the invention is to place the foldedsheets, as above described, into the jig with the overlapped centerpanels 93 and 103 against the back plate and so that the dowel pinsextend upwardly along the meeting edges of the intermediate panels 91,92, 106, and 107. The chuck thus holds the sheets in compartment formingrelation. Articles 61, such as pipe nipples, are then placed in thecompartment in stacked relation therein. The articles form a pack 125having a longitudinal dimension longitudinally aligned with theintermediate panels of the sheets and transverse dimensions extendedtransversely of the intermediate panels of the sheets. The pack has aninner end 126 against the overlapped center panels and an outer end 127adjacent to the opening for the compartment.

After the compartment is filled, the end panels 89 and 90 are foldeddownwardly over the outer end 127 of the pack 125. For this purpose thesheet 79 is folded along selected outer fold lines 87 and 88 so that thedistance between such fold lines and the overlapped center panels issubstantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the pack. Thisbrings the end edges 83 and 84 of the sheet 79 into meeting engagement.The end panels 104 and 105 are likewise folded over the outer end 127 ofthe pack and in overlapped relation to the end panels 89 and 90.

The package is completed by extending a strip of tape 130 along themeeting edges of the end panels 104 and 105 to secure these panelstogether. It is to be noted, that, depending on the length of the pack125, the end edges 83 and 84, and 98 and 99 may meet or overlap. Theimportant feature is that the plurality of outer fold lines 87, 88, 102,and 193 permit the end panels to fit against the outer end 127 of thepack so the pack is completely held within the container.

From the foregoing it will be evident that improvements have been madein the packaging of articles which greatly simplifies, speeds, andrenders more economical such packaging. Particularly with the first formof the invention, the partial formation of packages immediately prior tofilling thereof provides convenient access to the interior of thepackage for proper and rapid placement of articles therein. The packagesare economical since they may be formed of blanks which may be sent tothe users in fiat condition and since they can be formed in a minimum oftime and with a minimum of materials and training.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred methods andembodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to thedetails disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of theclaims so as to embrace any and all equivalent methods. a

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letter Patent is:

1. A method of packaging elongated substantially cylindrical rigidarticles of substantially uniform length with a pair of elongatedsubstantially rectangular sheets of substantially longitudinally andtransversely rigid foldable material having longitudinal side edges andop- :posite ends comprising overlapping the sheets in sub stantiallyright angular relation to provide releasably overlapped portions andfour outwardly extended end portions; folding the sheets along firsttransverse fold lines bordering the overlapped portions to extend theend portions in a common direction and into compart ment formingrelation bounding the overlapped portions, the side edges of the sheetsbeing in releasable edgewardly adjacent meeting relation in saidcompartment forming relation; placing the folded sheets temporarily in ajig having dowels arranged in substantially rectangular [relationcorresponding to the sides of the overlapped portions with the dowelsextended along the meeting edgewardly adjacent side edges of the endportions to hold such side edges together; filling the compartmentformed by the end portions of the sheets with a plurality of sucharticles, the articles forming a substantially longitudinally rigid packhaving a predetermined longitudinal dimension, transverse dimensionsequal to the transverse spacing of the end portions, an end against theoverlapped portions, and an extended end, the ex tended end of the packhaving substantially rigid end edges individually adjacent to said endportions of'the sheets; folding the end portions of the sheets alongtheir respectively adjacent end edges of the pack to providesecondtransverse fold lines spaced from the overlapped portionsby adistance substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the packto overlap said end portions in overlying relation to the extended endof the pack and. to bring the opposite ends of each sheet together, thelongitudinal rigidity of the pack facilitating the folding of the sheetsalong said second transverse fold lines; and securing the ends of thesheets together.

2. In, a method of packaging employing a pair of elongated substantiallyrectangular sheets of substantially rigid foldable material havinglongitudinal side edges and opposite ends, the steps ofoverlapping thesheets in adjacent spaced relation to the ends and in the form of anasymmetrical cross to provide overlapped portions, a pair of long end,portions and a pair of short end portions;'folding-the long and shortend portions along lines constituting the bordering edges of theoverlapped portions. to form an open compartment bounded by the longand. short portions with the short portions being in adjacent angularrelation to each other andwith the long portions being in adjacentangular relation to each other, said compartment being thus adapted toreceive material to be packaged; folding the long portions over thecompartment in overlapping relation to each other so as to bring theends of each sheet into engagement thereby to enclose the compartment;and, securing the ends of the sheets together.

'3. A method of packaging articles with a pair ofelongated-substantially rectangular sheets of substantiallyrigidgfbldable material each having opposite ends and longitudinal sideedges comprising overlaying one of the sheets by the other With thesheets crossed adjacent to their ends, folding the sheets about theoverlaid portions to'form an open compartment bounded by. a pair ofangularly adjacent short end portions and a pair of anigularly adjacentlong end portions and adapted to be upwardly disposed for fillingpurposes, placing such articles in the open compartment, folding one ofthe long end portions along fold lines transversely of its respectivesheet over the compartment to bring the end of such long portion intoengagement with the end edge of the short end portion associatedtherewith, folding the other long portion Ealong 'fold linestransversely of its respec tivesheet over the compartment in overlayingrelation to the long portion first folded to bring the end edge of itsrespectively associated sheet into engagement with the end edge of itsassociated short portion whereby the compartment is enclosed, andsecuring the ajacent end edges of such portions together.

4. A method of packaging elongated articles of predetel-mined lengthwith a pair of elongated substantially rectangular sheets ofsubstantially rigid, foldable material having longitudinal side edges:and opposite ends comprising overlapping the sheets in adjacent spacedrelation to the ends thereof and in the form of an asymmetrical cross toprovide a pair of angularly adjacent long end portions, overlappedintermediate portions, and a pair of angularly adjacent short endportions; folding the long and short end portions along linesconstituting the bordering edges of the overlapped portions to form anopen compartment bounded by the long and the short end portions; fillingthe compartment with the elongated articles arranged longitudinally ofthe sheets so as to have ends tested against the overlapped portions andoppositely extended ends; Wrapping the long end portions around thearticles in the compartment and in overlapping relation to each other tobring the ends of the sheets into adjacent relationship; and securingthe long and short end portions of each sheet together to enclose thearticles in the compartment.

5. A method of packaging elongated articles of sub stantially uniformlength employing a pair of elongated substantially rectangular sheets ofsubstantially rigid foldable material having longitudinal side edges andopposite endscomprising overlapping the sheets in adjacent spacedrelation to the ends so as to be in the form of an asymmetrical crossproviding overlapping portions, a pair of long end portions, and a pairof short end portions; fold ing the long and short end portions alonglines bordering the, overlapping portions of the sheets to form an opensubstantially rectangular compartment surrounded by the long and shortportions and with the long and short portions being respectively inangularly adjacent relation to each other; filling the compartment withelongated articles so that the articles form a pack having a longitudinal dimension and substantially equal transverse dimensions; foldingthe long portions along inner and outer fold lines, the inner fold linesbeing spaced from the overlapping portion by a distance substantiallyequal to the longitudinal dimension of the pack of articles and theinner and outer fold lines being spaced from each other by a distancesubstantially equal to the transverse dimensions of the pack; wrappingthe long portions around the pack of articles with panels definedbetween the inner and outer fold lines being in overlapping relation andsubstantially parallel to said overlapping portions. and being againstthe pack of articles; bringing the opposite ends of the sheets intoedgewardly adjacent relation; and taping the long and short portions ofthe sheets together to enclose the articles in the compartment.

6. In a method of forming a package from first and second, substantiallyidentical, elongated, substantially rectangular sheets of substantiallyrigid, bendable material each having longitudinal side edges, transverseend edges, transverse outer fold lines in spaced relation to the endedges, and spaced transverse inner fold lines in spaced relation to theouter fold lines to define a center panel between the inner fold lines,first and second intermediate panels between adjacent inner and outerfold lines, and first and second end panels between adjacent outer foldand end edges, the steps of overlapping the first intermediate panels ofthe sheets with the sheets in substantially right angular relation;folding the sheets along the first inner and outer fold lines borderingthe overlapped panels to form an open compartment surrounded by thefirst end panels forming angularly adjacent short walls and the center,second intermediate and second end panels forming angularly adjacentlong walls; folding the long Wall of one of the sheets along its secondintermediate and outer fold lines so that the panels of such sheetcircumscribe the compartment with the end edges in engagement; foldingthe long Wall of the other sheet along its second inner and outer foldlines so that the panels of such sheet circumscribe the compart- 'mentwith their end edges in engagement and with the second intermediatepanels in overlapping substantially parallel relation to the firstintermeditae panels; and securing the adjacent end edges of the panelstogether.

7. A method of packaging elongated substantially cylindrical articles ofuniform length employing a pair of elongated substantially rectangularsheets of fiberboard material having longitudinal side edges andopposite ends comprising providing a plurality of closely adjacenttransverse outer fold lines in adjacent spaced relation to one end ofeach of the sheets; providing a plurality of closely adjacent transverseinner fold lines in spaced relation to the outer fold lines and beingcloser to said ends of the sheets to which the outer fold lines areadjacent than to the opposite ends of the sheets, the inner and outerfold lines defining intermediate panels therebetween; overlapping thesheets in adjacent spaced relation to the ends opposite to the endsadjacent to which the fold lines are located and in the form of anasymmetrical cross to provide overlapped portions, first and secondshort end portions, and first and second long end portions containingthe fold lines; bending the long and short end portions along thebordering edges of the overlapped portions to form an open compartmentbounded by the long and short portions; placing the folded sheets insuch compartment forming relation in a jig temporarily to maintain thesheets in such relation; filling the compartment withelongated articlesarranged longitudinally of the sheets so as to have ends rested againstthe overlapped portions and oppositely extended ends and so that thearticles form a pack having a longitudinal dimension and substantiallyequal transverse dimensions; folding said first long end portion alongan inner fold line spaced from the overlapped portions a distancesubstantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the pack; placingthe intermediate panel of said first long end portion against theextended ends of the articles; folding said first long end portion alongan outer fold line spaced from its respective inner fold line a distanceequal to the transverse dimension of the pack so as to bring the opposite ends of its respective sheet into closely adjacent relation;folding said second long end portion along an inner fold line spacedfrom the overlapped portions a distance substantially equal to thelongitudinal dimension of the pack; placing the intermediate panel ofsaid second long end portion in overlapping relation to the intermediatepanel of said first long end portion; folding said second long endportion along an outer fold line spaced from its respective inner foldline by a distance equal to the transverse dimension of the pack so asto bring the opposite ends of its respective sheet into closely adjacentrelation; and taping the opposite ends of the sheets together to enclosethe articles in the compartment.

8. A' method of packaging elongated substantially cylindrical rigidarticles of substantially uniform length with a pair of elongated sheetsof substantially rigid foldable material having opposite longitudinalside edges and opposite transversely extended end edges comprisingoverlapping the sheets in substantially right-angular relation toprovide releasable overlapped portions and four outwardly extended endportions; folding the sheets along first transverse fold lines borderingthe overlapped portions to extend the end portions in a common directionand into compartment forming relation bounding the overlapped portions,the end edges of the sheets being in releasable edgewardly adjacentmeeting relation in said compartment forming relation; placing thefolded sheets temporarily in a jig to hold the sheets in saidcompartment forming relation with the meeting side edges of the sheetsheld together; filling the compartment formed by the end portions of thesheets with a plurality of such articles, the articles forming asubstantially longitudinally rigid pack having a predeterminedlongitudinal dimension, transverse dimensions equal to the spacing ofthe end portions forming the compartment, an end against the overlappedportions, and an extended end, the extended end of the pack havingsubstantially rigid end edges individually adjacent to said end portionsof the sheets; folding the end portions of the sheets along theirrespectively adjacent end edges of the pack to provide second transversefold lines spaced from the overlapped portions by a distancesubstantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the pack to overlapsaid end portions in overlying relation to the extended end of the packand to bring the opposite end edges of each sheet together, thelongitudinal rigidity of the pack facilitating the folding of the sheetsalong said second transverse fold lines; and securing the end edges ofthe sheets together.

9. In a method of forming a carton from a pair of elongatedsubstantially rectangular sheets of substantially rigid foldablematerial having longitudinal side edges and opposite ends comprisingoverlapping the sheets in adjacent spaced relation to the ends and inthe form of an asymmetrical cross to provide overlapped portions havingbordering edges substantially defining a rectangle, a pair of major endportions of predetermined length and a pair of minor end portionsshorter than said major end portions; folding the major and minor endportions along first and second transverse lines coinciding with thebordering edges of the overlapped portions to extend the major and minorend portions in a common direction to form an open material receivingcompartment circumscribed by the major and minor portions and withadjacent side edges thereof in contact; folding the major portions alongthird transverse lines into overlapping relation to each other toprovide overlapped panels substantially parallel to said overlappedportion; folding the major portions along fourth transverse lines tobring opposite ends of the sheet together; and securing the ends of thesheets together.

10. A method of packaging elongated rigid articles of substantiallyuniform predetermined length with a pair of elongated substantiallyrectangular sheets of substantially rigid foldable material havinglongitudinal side edges and transversely extended opposite end edgescomprising overlapping the sheets in adjacent spaced relation to the endedges and in the form of an asymmetrical cross to provide overlappedportions having bordering edges substantially defining a rectangle, apair of major end portions of predetermined length and a pair of minorend portions shorter than the major end portions, all of said endportions being outwardly extended from the overlapped portions; foldingthe major and minor end portions along first and second linestransversely of the sheets and coincident With the bordering edges ofthe overlapped portions to extend the major and minor end portions in acommon direction so as to form an open compartment circumscribed by themajor and minor end portions and with adjacent side edges thereof incontact; filling the compartment with suificient elongated articles sothat the articles form a pack having predetermined longitudinal andtransverse dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of saidrectangular overlapped portions and so that the articles extendlongitudinally of the major and minor end portions a distance greaterthan the length of the minor end portions but less than the length ofthe major end portions, the articles having inner ends against theoverlapped portions and outer ends; folding the major end portions alongthird transverse fold lines spaced from the overlapped portionssubstantially the same distance as the length of articles intooverlapping relation overlying the outer ends of the articles; foldingthe major end portions along fourth transverse fold lines spaced fromthe third fold lines by amounts equal to said predetermined transversedimensions of the pack to bring the opposite end edges of the sheetstogether; and circumsen'bing the folded sheets with tape in marginallyoverlapping relation to the adjacent end edges thereof transversely ofthe sheets to secure the end edges together and for holding the articleswithin the sheets.

11. A method of packaging elongated substantially cylindrical rigidarticles of uniform length with a pair of elongated rectangular sheetsof uniform size and shape and of substantially rigid foldable materialhaving longitudinal side edges and opposite ends comprising overlappingthe sheets in substantially perpendicular asymmetrical relation toprovide releasable overlapped portions of substantially equal length andfour outwardly extended end portions; folding the sheets along linesbordering the overlapped portions to extend the end portions in a commondirection and into compartment forming relation bounding the overlappedportions, the end edges of the sheets being in releasable edgewardlyadjacent relation in said compartment forming relation; placing thefolded sheets temporarily in a jig having dowels arranged insubstantially rectangular relation corresponding to the sides of theoverlapped portions with the dowels extended along the meetingedgewardly adjacent side edges of the end .portions to hold such sideedges together; filling the compartment formed by the end portions ofthe sheets with a plurality of such articles, the articles forming apack having a predetermined longitudinal dimension, transversedimensions equal to the transverse spacing of the end portions; an endagainst the overlapped portions, an extended end providing end edgesrespectively adjacent to the end portions of the sheets, and havingsubstantial longitudinal rigidity; folding each of the end portionsalong transverse lines defined by the extended end edges of the pack andspaced from the overlapped portions by amounts substantially equal tothe longitudinal dimension of the pack into substantially parallelrelation to said overlapped portions in overlying relation to theextended end of the pack and bringing the opposite ends of each sheettogether at the extended end of the pack; circumscribing the foldedsheets with tape extended longitudinally of each sheet and marginallyoverlapping the adjacent ends of the sheets at the extended end of thepack; and removing the filled and taped sheets from the jig.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,096,278 Huebsch et a1. Oct. 19, 1937 2,214,997 Guyer Sept. 17, 19402,233,945 Gurwick Mar. 4, 1941 2,246,097 Illges June 17, 1941 2,376,256Karlson May 15, 1945 2,757,851 Moore Aug. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,916Great Britain Nov. 12, 1913 129,411 Australia Oct. 12, 1948 135,510Australia Nov. 29, 1949

